Analysis of a Classic Chinese Poem: 玉蝴蝶·望处雨收云断

# Analysis of "玉蝴蝶·望处雨收云断" - Classical Chinese Poetry

## Introduction
The poem *玉蝴蝶·望处雨收云断* (*Yù Húdié·Wàng Chù Yǔ Shōu Yún Duàn*) is a renowned lyric poem (*cí*) by **Liu Yong** (柳永, 987–1053), a prominent poet of the Northern Song Dynasty. Liu Yong was a master of the *cí* form, known for his emotionally rich and linguistically refined works that often depicted love, longing, and the beauty of nature. This particular poem exemplifies his signature melancholic tone and vivid imagery, capturing the fleeting nature of time and the sorrow of separation. It remains a celebrated piece in Chinese literary history for its lyrical beauty and emotional depth.

## The Poem: Full Text and Translation

> 望处雨收云断  
> *Wàng chù yǔ shōu yún duàn*  
> Gazing afar, the rain stops, the clouds break  

> 凭阑悄悄  
> *Píng lán qiāo qiāo*  
> Leaning on the railing, silent and alone  

> 目送秋光  
> *Mù sòng qiū guāng*  
> Watching the autumn light fade  

> 晚景萧疏  
> *Wǎn jǐng xiāo shū*  
> The evening scene grows desolate  

> 堪动宋玉悲凉  
> *Kān dòng Sòng Yù bēi liáng*  
> Enough to stir the sorrow of Song Yu  

> 水风轻  
> *Shuǐ fēng qīng*  
> The breeze over the water is light  

> 蘋花渐老  
> *Pín huā jiàn lǎo*  
> The duckweed flowers wither  

> 月露冷  
> *Yuè lù lěng*  
> The moonlit dew turns cold  

> 梧叶飘黄  
> *Wú yè piāo huáng*  
> The plane tree leaves drift, yellowed  

> 遣情伤  
> *Qiǎn qíng shāng*  
> Sorrow lingers in the heart  

> 故人何在  
> *Gù rén hé zài*  
> Where are my old friends now?  

> 烟水茫茫  
> *Yān shuǐ máng máng*  
> Mist and water stretch endlessly  

## Line-by-Line Analysis  

1. **"Gazing afar, the rain stops, the clouds break"**  
   The opening line sets a transitional scene—nature shifts from rain to clearing skies, mirroring the poet's emotional state.  

2. **"Leaning on the railing, silent and alone"**  
   The poet stands in solitude, a common motif in classical Chinese poetry symbolizing contemplation and loneliness.  

3. **"Watching the autumn light fade"**  
   Autumn, a season of decay and nostalgia, deepens the mood of melancholy.  

4. **"Enough to stir the sorrow of Song Yu"**  
   **Song Yu** (宋玉) was a Warring States poet known for his *"Grief in Autumn"* (《九辩》), a cultural reference amplifying the theme of sorrow.  

5. **"The breeze over the water is light / The duckweed flowers wither"**  
   Delicate natural imagery underscores impermanence—the fading flowers symbolize lost youth or friendships.  

6. **"The moonlit dew turns cold / The plane tree leaves drift, yellowed"**  
   The cold dew and falling leaves reinforce the autumnal desolation, paralleling the poet’s inner chill.  

7. **"Where are my old friends now? / Mist and water stretch endlessly"**  
   The final lines evoke existential longing. The "mist and water" (烟水) symbolize life’s vast, uncertain journey and the elusiveness of reunion.  

## Themes and Symbolism  

- **Transience and Sorrow**: The poem laments the passage of time and the pain of separation, using autumn’s decay as a metaphor.  
- **Nature’s Reflections**: Every natural detail—rain, clouds, duckweed, leaves—mirrors the poet’s emotional landscape.  
- **Longing for Connection**: The unanswered question *"Where are my old friends?"* speaks to universal human yearning.  

## Cultural Context  

Liu Yong wrote during the Song Dynasty, a golden age for *cí* poetry. Unlike rigid *shī* (诗) forms, *cí* were set to musical tunes, allowing emotional flexibility. This poem reflects **Daoist** and **Confucian** influences: acceptance of life’s flux (Daoism) and the value of human bonds (Confucianism). Its popularity also stems from Liu Yong’s focus on personal emotion—a shift from earlier, more formal poetry.  

## Conclusion  

*玉蝴蝶·望处雨收云断* is a masterpiece of lyrical melancholy, blending nature’s beauty with profound loneliness. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal themes—love, loss, and the passage of time—rendered through exquisite imagery. For modern readers, the poem is a reminder of art’s power to transcend centuries, connecting us to the shared human experience of longing and reflection.  

*"Mist and water stretch endlessly"*—perhaps like the poem’s resonance across time.